Tuesday, 22 May 2018

Today our
Association played at Cairns Golf Club in cool and blustery
conditions. The event was as usual, a Stableford event and also a
scoring event for the Consistency Trophy. Once again BROTHERS
LEAGUES CLUB supplied
sponsorship for the event by the way of Gift Cards. The
presentation of the course proved to be excellent and the Manager,
Matt Boland, who happened to be in the clubhouse at trophy
presentation time was congratulated on its condition.

A total of 106
players, comprised of 83 men and 23 ladies, fronted the starter and
due to the changing and gusty wind, found the course relatively
difficult. The ball rundown went to 30 for the men and 29 for the
ladies. The players included a new member, Mark Buckle, a member of
Cairns and a hearty welcome is extended to him. We now have 191
members, 145 men and 46 ladies.

Next time we play at
Cairns we may have change to one of the N.T.P.’s. Lois Tait was
saying that, on Saturdays, the N.T.P. on the 5th hole is
played as a one-shot hole for the Ladies and a two shot hole for the
men rather than the opposite way we normally play Par 3’s. When one
considers the difference in distances from the men’s tee compared
to the ladies’ tee that is a reasonable call. The consensus of the
Committee members present today was that we should give it a try.

Names are starting
to flow in for the Mirage game on 6th July. At the
present time we have 45 members who have nominated, with 3 reserves
also putting their names down. The game, including a cart, will cost
you $35 total. To nominate, give your name to John Everall next week
plus $10 deposit and your place will be reserved. The Committee
decided that those who nominated for the washed out game will get
first preference and those who weren’t part of that first list will
be put on the “reserve” list. Further information will be
published as the date gets closer.

I think that those
who attended the presentation today would agree that my dissertation
was the shortest they have heard me give. I found that, due to the
absence of Vice President Robin, who is presently on holidays, I was
deprived of the incentive to keep talking. His cries of “Get Off”,
“Someone take the mike off him” and various other catcalls only
stirs me on to greater heights. So maybe that’s the answer to the
“alleged” problem of
my “alleged” excessive talking at presentation. Get rid of the
Vice President!!

Tuesday, 15 May 2018

Although
there was a bit of a chill in the air when we all arrived at Mareeba
this morning, the day day turned out to be a glorious one. Warm and
clear, what this time of year is all about.

We
had 79 player today contest a Stableford Event which was the first
round to the Ted Thomasson Trophy. The field consisted of 69 men and
10 ladies. The course was again in very good condition, both greens
and fairway. I can also vouch for the fact that the rough was in
good condition too. The course is a credit to Rod Cade and his team
of three octogenarian volunteers who help him keep the course in the
condition we find it.

The
game was sponsored by DRUMMOND GOLF, Darren
Golder being the proprietor of the business which is a long time
sponsor. Due to a change in company policy, all players are advised
that Golf Vouchers sponsored
by Drummond’s and won
through the Vets now have a one month expiry from the date
on which the voucher was won.That date is endorsed on the
voucher. It is the responsibility of the successful players, if not
present at the day’s presentation. to collect the voucher as soon
as they can to give
themselves maximum opportunity to redeem the voucher within the
allotted time.

Registrations
for our Mirage game opened today with 29 nominations.
As was stated in last week’s Blog, preference will be given to
those players who nominated for the wash-out game in March.Treasurer John is keeping a
reserve list of those who are nominating for the first time should
there be any vacancies when nominations close.

The
Committee is going through a period where our numbers are down
temporarily,
due to the absence of Committee members for various reasons. This
will be so for the next couple of weeks. It
was most obvious today that the players appeared to be aware of this
shortfall and acted with
consideration during
registration, presentation, etc. This was most appreciated by all of
the remaining Committee.

Our
next game will be at Cairns on 22nd
May, and I hope to see you all there.

As a reminder to all players, please put your FULL golflink number on your card as it makes it easier for the Captain to enter the scores. Failure to do so in future may result in disqualification or your scores being entered as NSR.

Wednesday, 9 May 2018

The
day dawned cloudy and with misty showers hovering around the
Gordonvale area. The day improved and I think we all got through the
game without too much discomfort.

There
were 73 members in attendance, 55 men and 18 ladies. We competed in a Single Stableford event which was sponsored by DRUMMOND
GOLF, one of our long term supporters. We welcomed a visitor from
Cranbourne, Trevor Hamilton and a “new” or returning Member,
Meryl Gil.

The
fairways were good and the course prepared nicely for our visit. The
greens appeared to be improving but still have a little way to go to
catch up to where they were a couple of months ago. Overall, a number
of players found the course to their liking. “El Presidente” had
his best round in 12 months to win Men’s Division I with 43 points,
John Bawden won Division II with 39 points and Judy Guzzwell won the
Ladies’ Division with 38 points.

After
V.P. Robin had preliminary discussions with a member of staff at
Mirage Country Club, today I had further discussions with Geoff
Peard, the Manager and as a result we have booked a game at that
course for Friday 6th July, 2018. The event will be a
Single Stableford, Shotgun start. The fees will remain as for the
washed-out game, i.e. $35 per head with a $10 deposit. The Committee
has decided that those members who paid their deposits for the first
game will get first preference of entry to this game. The field will
be restricted to the first 88 players registered and a chronological
list will be kept. The field may be increased to 96 at the
discretion of the Committee. Additionally, only players who are
financial members of the F.N.Q.V.G.A. as at today’s date are
eligible to enter. This is to prevent players joining just to get a
cheap game and also to protect Mirage’s “Grey Nomad” market
during a busy time for the resort. Further information will be
disseminated as it comes to hand and registration will commence next
Tuesday.

Our
next game will be at Mareeba on 15th May and is the first
round of the Ted Thomasson Trophy. Lois will be taking shirt orders from that date for the next three weeks to 5 June, so please see her if you would like one of our shirts.

Friday, 4 May 2018

Our next game is a single stableford at Gordonvale. (Some members have mentioned to Captain Russ that they thought the next game was at Cairns, but where they obtained that information no-one knows, as the program available at registration & on the blog is very clear that it is at Gordonvale & it has NOT changed.)

Since our last game at Gordonvale the greens have been sprayed & are very slowly coming back. The drains have also been mowed although the rough in them was so thick that it is quite patchy & there's plenty of hay in them to swallow your balls, so avoid!

The game is sponsored by Drummond Golf Cairns.
See you there.

Louis

PS Other games around the ridges:

Canungra Area Golf Club have commenced a monthly open Vets day Apr - Nov. Details from Damon Palliser dpalliser@bigpond.com.

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

On
arrival at Atherton today we were all greeted with that nip in the
air that, as Summer retreats,
is synonymous with Tablelands’
mornings. The day itself had patches of overcast sky but the
majority of the day was sunny and pleasantly warm. Luckily, by the
time some showers started to fall, the whole field was in.

The
course itself was in very good condition, with the greens excellent
and running at a good speed. The
day’s scores reflected this.
I think everyone will agree that some of the pins were in some
“interesting” positions, with
holes 14 and 15 immediately springing to mind. The course is a great
credit to the Green-keeper, Brendan and the members he has helping
him.If
this standard of course continues throughout the year, it
augurs well for the Club and
our Championships in August.
Thanks also go to Kylie, the Club manager and to Kevin who was behind
the bar looking after our needs.

The
event today was a Consistency event and was sponsored by BROTHERS
LEAGUES CLUB and
we are very grateful of their continued sponsorship. We had 79
players tee off, 67
men and 12 ladies. It
was interesting that the Winners
and Runners Up in
both Men’s Divisions were
Tablelands members. Talk
about “local knowledge”.

Our
three Committee ladies were away today, but contrary to the
expectations of the three, the male members of the Committee handled
registration, et
cetera, in a completely professional and efficient
manner. There
was some talk that the men could handle it on their own all of the
time. Joking!
Joking! Sorry! Sorry! Ladies,
please
come back, we did really miss you.However,
there
is an allegation, unsubstantiated at this stage, there were two
10/6 groups waiting on the 6th
tee with a statement being made that “the
men are useless on the registration desk without women to guide
them”.

Our
best wishes go to Tom Stager, who was operated on in Townsville
yesterday to have a heart valve replaced. In a text forwarded to me
during the game from his good Mate, Wal Anthony, Tom was back to
giving cheek and thus, according
to Wal,
was O.K.
I never cease to be amazed by
the resilience of the man considering the trials he has faced over
the past 13 or so years. It may be some weeks before Tom joins usagain
at the Vets but he will certainly be welcomed back. Wal will keep us
apprised of Tom’s
recovery progress as time goes by.

Our
next game will be at Gordonvale on 8th May. Looking forward to
seeing you all there.